The semi-finals of the 2017/18 Danske Bank Ulster Schools' Cup will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday at Kingspan Stadium, as the final four battle it out for a place in the showpiece decider on 19th March.
Campbell College, Belfast v Methodist College, Belfast
Tuesday 6th March, 2.30pm at Kingspan Stadium
The Campbell College team has enjoyed a fair amount of success this season and were impressive with their display of attacking rugby in the course of their 4th Round tie against a very talented Dalriada School team, but had to work much harder for a narrow victory against Ballymena Academy in the quarter-finals. The Campbell College team is coached by Neil Doak who has the experience of Brian Robinson and the youthful exuberance of Jonny Cupitt to assist him. The team is captained by John McKee who also captained the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U18 team to Inter-Provincial success back in September. Alongside McKee, Ben Power and Jack Stinson both featured with the Ulster Schools’ U18 team, while Oisin Kiernan and Jamie Maccartney were ever present with the Ulster U19 team. Oscar Yandell, Harry Owens, John Harrison and Rex Tinsley are other promising prospects. Talented outhalf Conor Rankin has displayed great game management skills this season and is one of the best place kickers playing in Ulster Schools’ rugby at the minute.
The Methodist College, Belfast team seems to be coming good at just the right time of the season. Having been beaten finalists in the 2017 competition the current squad of players would love to put that record straight this year. They travelled to Coleraine Grammar School in the fourth round and came through with flying colours, in what might have been a tricky encounter against a very confident opposition. They then took on Bangor Grammar School in the quarter-finals, displaying an attacking game that lacked nothing in terms of skill, awareness and ambition. The wide open spaces of Kingspan Stadium should encourage the Methody team to stick with the attacking prowess displayed this season and continue to reap the rewards this positive approach has brought. The Methodist College team is coached by the experienced duo of Nicky Wells and Stephen Lindsay, and led on the pitch by team captain, Matthew Neill. The team has recorded some impressive victories including a win against the Portugal U19 team earlier in the season. Dynamic back-row forward Conor Kelly, is the top try scorer for this season. Ethan McIlroy has recorded the most points for Methody with his try scoring ability and place kicking skills serving his team well. Along with McIlroy, Ben Crangle, Kevin McNaboe, Thomas Armstrong, Robbie Armstrong, and Chris Larmour were all involved with the successful Ulster Schools’ U18 squad, while both Ben and Kevin have been attendees at Irish Schools’ U18 Camps this season. The Methodist College team is composed of mostly Year 13 players but there is a feeling within the camp that this squad would be seen as a much more traditional Methodist College cup team.
Royal Belfast Academical Institution v Royal School, Armagh
Wednesday 7th March, 2.30pm at Kingspan Stadium
Current holders of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup, Royal Belfast Academical Institution, have come through the first two rounds of this year’s competition in a comfortable enough manner. However, it is felt that, despite being made to work hard for their victories in both these games, the Belfast Inst players have yet to play to their full potential.
Under the guidance of team coaches Dan Soper and Richard Hedley, the Belfast Inst team is captained by David McCann, who has the experienced Niall Armstrong to assist him as Vice- Captain. McCann and Angus Adair were vital members of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U18 team and both have attended Ireland Schools’ U18 Camps. Robin McIlveen was also involved with the U18 Schools’ team and, but for injury, would have attended the Ireland Schools’ Camps. The return to play of Robin has been a major boost to the squad as his performances against Ballyclare High School and Sullivan Upper School in the previous rounds would suggest. Armstrong and David Lyttle, both of whom were involved with the Ulster U19 team, have two Schools’ Cup Winners medals already, and would be very keen to secure a third medal come March 19th. A successful tour to New Zealand last summer, as well as a post-Christmas training camp, would appear to have set the current Belfast Inst squad up for a more than realistic challenge for a fourth successive Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup success this season.
The Royal School, Armagh team has experienced a very successful season in terms of some very positive results gained in the lead up to the start of their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign. They added to their reputation with fine victories against Cambridge House Grammar School and the much fancied Wallace High School in the previous rounds of the competiiton. The team is coached by Willie Faloon and Chris Parker, and captained by Jack Treanor who has led by example throughout the season. Jack, alongside the experienced Nicholas Jennings and Zac Thompson, is one of the leading try scorers on the RS Armagh team. Thompson is also the top points scorer who has had an outstanding season with his trusty boot. This Armagh team is a very competent team who play the game in a very positive way, scoring a lot of tries in their outings to date. Ryan O’Neill and Nicholas Jennings were members of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U18 Inter-Provincial winning team earlier in the season. Nicolas would dearly love to emulate the success experienced by his father, John, who scored the winning try for the Royal School, Armagh team that won the Ulster Schools’ Cup in 1977. Jonny Agnew, Jude Roberts and Charlie Worth are involved with the U17 Schools’ Development group while Josh King has been involved at U16 Ulster level. Charlie Worth has become established as a very positive player, who can play in a number of different positions. The loss of the influential Benji Boyd to injury prior to the quarter-final did not impact as seriously as it might on the RS Armagh players due to the depth and adaptability of the talent that exists within the squad.
Campbell College, Belfast v Methodist College, Belfast
Tuesday 6th March, 2.30pm at Kingspan Stadium
The Campbell College team has enjoyed a fair amount of success this season and were impressive with their display of attacking rugby in the course of their 4th Round tie against a very talented Dalriada School team, but had to work much harder for a narrow victory against Ballymena Academy in the quarter-finals. The Campbell College team is coached by Neil Doak who has the experience of Brian Robinson and the youthful exuberance of Jonny Cupitt to assist him. The team is captained by John McKee who also captained the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U18 team to Inter-Provincial success back in September. Alongside McKee, Ben Power and Jack Stinson both featured with the Ulster Schools’ U18 team, while Oisin Kiernan and Jamie Maccartney were ever present with the Ulster U19 team. Oscar Yandell, Harry Owens, John Harrison and Rex Tinsley are other promising prospects. Talented outhalf Conor Rankin has displayed great game management skills this season and is one of the best place kickers playing in Ulster Schools’ rugby at the minute.
The Methodist College, Belfast team seems to be coming good at just the right time of the season. Having been beaten finalists in the 2017 competition the current squad of players would love to put that record straight this year. They travelled to Coleraine Grammar School in the fourth round and came through with flying colours, in what might have been a tricky encounter against a very confident opposition. They then took on Bangor Grammar School in the quarter-finals, displaying an attacking game that lacked nothing in terms of skill, awareness and ambition. The wide open spaces of Kingspan Stadium should encourage the Methody team to stick with the attacking prowess displayed this season and continue to reap the rewards this positive approach has brought. The Methodist College team is coached by the experienced duo of Nicky Wells and Stephen Lindsay, and led on the pitch by team captain, Matthew Neill. The team has recorded some impressive victories including a win against the Portugal U19 team earlier in the season. Dynamic back-row forward Conor Kelly, is the top try scorer for this season. Ethan McIlroy has recorded the most points for Methody with his try scoring ability and place kicking skills serving his team well. Along with McIlroy, Ben Crangle, Kevin McNaboe, Thomas Armstrong, Robbie Armstrong, and Chris Larmour were all involved with the successful Ulster Schools’ U18 squad, while both Ben and Kevin have been attendees at Irish Schools’ U18 Camps this season. The Methodist College team is composed of mostly Year 13 players but there is a feeling within the camp that this squad would be seen as a much more traditional Methodist College cup team.
Royal Belfast Academical Institution v Royal School, Armagh
Wednesday 7th March, 2.30pm at Kingspan Stadium
Current holders of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup, Royal Belfast Academical Institution, have come through the first two rounds of this year’s competition in a comfortable enough manner. However, it is felt that, despite being made to work hard for their victories in both these games, the Belfast Inst players have yet to play to their full potential.
Under the guidance of team coaches Dan Soper and Richard Hedley, the Belfast Inst team is captained by David McCann, who has the experienced Niall Armstrong to assist him as Vice- Captain. McCann and Angus Adair were vital members of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U18 team and both have attended Ireland Schools’ U18 Camps. Robin McIlveen was also involved with the U18 Schools’ team and, but for injury, would have attended the Ireland Schools’ Camps. The return to play of Robin has been a major boost to the squad as his performances against Ballyclare High School and Sullivan Upper School in the previous rounds would suggest. Armstrong and David Lyttle, both of whom were involved with the Ulster U19 team, have two Schools’ Cup Winners medals already, and would be very keen to secure a third medal come March 19th. A successful tour to New Zealand last summer, as well as a post-Christmas training camp, would appear to have set the current Belfast Inst squad up for a more than realistic challenge for a fourth successive Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup success this season.
The Royal School, Armagh team has experienced a very successful season in terms of some very positive results gained in the lead up to the start of their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign. They added to their reputation with fine victories against Cambridge House Grammar School and the much fancied Wallace High School in the previous rounds of the competiiton. The team is coached by Willie Faloon and Chris Parker, and captained by Jack Treanor who has led by example throughout the season. Jack, alongside the experienced Nicholas Jennings and Zac Thompson, is one of the leading try scorers on the RS Armagh team. Thompson is also the top points scorer who has had an outstanding season with his trusty boot. This Armagh team is a very competent team who play the game in a very positive way, scoring a lot of tries in their outings to date. Ryan O’Neill and Nicholas Jennings were members of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U18 Inter-Provincial winning team earlier in the season. Nicolas would dearly love to emulate the success experienced by his father, John, who scored the winning try for the Royal School, Armagh team that won the Ulster Schools’ Cup in 1977. Jonny Agnew, Jude Roberts and Charlie Worth are involved with the U17 Schools’ Development group while Josh King has been involved at U16 Ulster level. Charlie Worth has become established as a very positive player, who can play in a number of different positions. The loss of the influential Benji Boyd to injury prior to the quarter-final did not impact as seriously as it might on the RS Armagh players due to the depth and adaptability of the talent that exists within the squad.